Written Answers Nos. 378-397
378. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development of a new site to accommodate a school (details supplied); when the new schools will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31814/25]
View answerThe major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post primary school with accommodation and 6 classrooms for children with special educational needs and a new 8 classroom primary school with accommodation and 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs at Ballincollig, which will be delivered as part of a shared educational campus.
It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
This ADAPT 4 Programme – Programme Innovate will be led by Integrated Project Teams (IPT’s), consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects.
AECOM as the Programme Manager are overseeing the procurement and appointment of the IPT’s. The procurement process for the IPT for the tranche of projects, including this project at Ballincollig, is currently being concluded.
Upon appointment, the IPT will begin the initial stage of architectural planning – Stage 1, where a site and current building assessment is carried out, and initial design sketch schemes are created.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will keep the schools and patron body informed of the progression of this project
379. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ASD places available in primary schools in Ballincollig, County Cork for September 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31815/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
380. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth the engagement her Department has had with a school (details supplied), regarding the provision of ASD places in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31816/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
As Minister the NCSE and my department have all had intensive engagements with the school referred to by the Deputy regarding establishing a special class. However the school does not have available place at this time to accommodate a class.
The NCSE focused on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year. This has ensured that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions. This should also help in reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place. This focus will remain when planning for the 2026/27 school year.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
381. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth if capital funding will be provided to a school (details supplied), to provide ASD classes in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31817/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
My department's planning and building unit continue to engage with the school to progress the application for the provision of additional accommodation at the school.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 399 of these classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in County Cork, 35 at primary and 18 at post primary level.
This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in County Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North of the City also. My department and the NCSE are also working with Cork Education and Training Board to expand capacity at both Rochestown Community Special School and East Cork Community Special School.
This year the NCSE focused on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year.?This will ensure that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions.?This should also help in reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
The NCSE has begun planning for the 2026/27 school year and will shortly be making school visits to examine which schools are best suited to meet demand for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will again focus on sanctioning classes in schools with available accommodation. My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31821/25]
View answerI can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was approved under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings for 2 General Classrooms, 1 Engineering Room, 2 Construction Rooms with 1 Prep Area, 1 Design & Communication Graphics room, 1 Multi Media room, 1 Graphics room, 1 Science Room with 1 Prep Area, 2 Classroom SEN base, and 3 SET rooms. The school authority is being assisted by Galway and Roscommon ETB (GRETB) in the delivery of this project.
A Stage 1 Addendum report was submitted to my department and a review of this report is ongoing by department officials after a resubmission of the addendum report was required. The project is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.
The Department will be in contact with the GRETB directly once this review has been completed.
My officials will continue to work closely with the GRETB and its design team to provide practical advice and assistance on this very important project.
383. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31822/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to was approved to enter my department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 4 General Classrooms, 2 SET Rooms, 1 Music Room, 1 Graphics Room, 1 Science Lab with Prep area, 1 Art Room, 2 Construction/Engineering Rooms with Prep area and a 2 classroom SEN Base.
This project has been devolved for delivery to the GRETB (Galway Roscommon Education Training Board).
I can confirm that following a stage presentation meeting in February 2025 this project was progressed to Stage 2a (detailed design) and official comments are currently being finalised and will issue shortly. In the meantime, the design team should continue to develop the detailed design as per our meeting agreement.
The Department will continue to provide assistance to the delivery body throughout this project and they will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
384. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31823/25]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy is devolved for delivery to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).
The project is currently at Stage 2a (the developed design stage) of the architectural process. As part of this process a stage 2a report was submitted in May 2025 by the project Design Team for review by the Department. Once this information is reviewed and approved by my Department, the project will progress to Stage 2b. This stage allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. The project will then progress to tender stage and onwards to construction is due course.
While at this current stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, LOETB will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them informed of progress on this important project.
385. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update in respect of the delivery of ASD classrooms at a school (details supplied); the date on which officials in the Department communicated with the school; the local authority in respect of the matter; and the steps she can take to expediate the processing of the transfer of deeds. [31834/25]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that this school recently confirmed their interest in opening a special class for the 2025/26 school year, however the NCSE understand that the school has no available accommodation to facilitate the class.
Officials in my department’s Planning and Building Unit confirm that they are aware that the school authority is liaising with Kildare County Council in order to secure land adjacent to the school to potentially allow the school to expand. Once this matter is progressed and the school is ready to submit an additional school accommodation (ASA) application, this will be given the utmost consideration.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places are being created in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The NCSE has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these, 15 are in County Kildare, 12 at primary and 3 at post primary level. This will add to the 131 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 6 special schools in Kildare with approximately 359 students enrolled.
My department has written to all schools opening new special classes asking them to commence their admission processes as quickly as possible. It has also requested the NCSE to work closely with schools and families to ensure that these children access places as quickly as possible.
The NCSE has begun identifying what provision is required for the 2026/27 school year and has begun planning in this regard. Part of this process, at a local level, and indeed nationwide, involves the NCSE examining which schools have capacity to expand within regions.
A particular focus this year was placed on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class, to open a new special class. This not only ensures that classes can open quickly, as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner, but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions. This focus will remain to the fore when planning for the 2026/27 school year.
However, as done previously, where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level, and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
386. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the allocation of SNA posts for the 2025/2026 school year; to outline the redeployment process in schools where surplus SNA posts have been identified; to outline the appeals process available to schools where SNA posts are identified as surplus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31871/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The NCSE have advised my department that all schools have been informed l of any change to their SNA allocations for the 2025/26 school year.
As outlined in Circular No 0032/2025 section 6, where the NCSE SNA review identifies a reduction in care needs in a school this may result in a surplus of SNA(S) posts. It is crucial that this allocation is transferred to a school where an increased level of primary care needs has been identified.
It is important in these cases that a SNA(s) has the opportunity to redeployed to a school where a vacant post arises.
This will facilitate retention of skilled and experienced SNAs in our education sector to support the best outcome for children with significant care needs in our schools.
Work has commenced on a redeployment scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). The Redeployment scheme will be operated by the (NCSE). Details of the redeployment scheme will be published by the NCSE when this work is completed.
It is intended that the SNA redeployment scheme will commence in the next school year to provide an opportunity to redeploy SNAs as the need arises for the start of the 2026/27 school year. The SNA redeployment scheme does not impact recruitment for this coming September.
Section 7 and 8 of Circular 0032/2025 Circular_SNA_2025.2026_Final_27-05-2025.pdf provides details of the appeal options available to schools and further detail is provided on the NCSE website (www.NCSE.ie).
387. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding reduction in ICT grant funding allocated to school (details supplied); if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31875/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I recently announced €35 million in funding to support digital learning in schools. €35 million in grant funding for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has now issued to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This ICT funding is being provided to schools to enable the continued embedding of digital technologies in their teaching, learning and assessment This is the third tranche of ICT funding under the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027.
The funding allocation model applying to the ICT Infrastructure Grant is detailed in the associated circular. All students following primary and post-primary programmes are included, for per capita purposes, in recognised primary, special and post-primary schools. An enhanced per capita rate applies to students enrolled in DEIS and Special schools and to pupils in mainstream special class primary settings. Information on the background to this scheme for the 2024-2025 school year, the rates and eligibility for this funding, is set out in the associated circular which can be found on .gov.ie website. Circular number 0042/2025
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and it's associated implementation plan is underpinned by funding of €200m over the course of the strategy, committed to under Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP). The funding allocation model is provided for in the National Development Plan, with funding to issue over the period of the NDP, applied by the Department for the Digital Strategy duration (to 2027 for the current strategy).
To date, a total of €135 million of the €200 million committed for in the NDP for the strategy has issued to schools through the ICT grant, including the recently issued grant. While the NDP commitment did not guarantee a specific amount in each year however, it is anticipated that issuing €35m in 2025, as announced by the Minister, will enable the balance of €65 million remaining to issue to schools over the remaining years of the current strategy to 2027.
This funding underpins the ongoing commitment to supporting and enabling schools to ensure the continued embedding of digital technologies in teaching learning and assessment.
Tackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. It provides a targeted range of supports and is additional to the universal supports provided to all schools, such as the introduction of free schoolbooks and free hot school meals. My department invests over €180 million annually to provide additional supports to almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme which supports approximately 260,000 students.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle disadvantage. That is why I am committed to publishing a new DEIS Plan in 2025. Building on the expansion of the DEIS programme in 2022, the new DEIS plan will work towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.
Any future expansion of the DEIS programme, and overall allocation of supports to schools to tackle educational disadvantage, will be considered within the context of the DEIS plan and availability of resources.
388. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by some school principals regarding proposed changes to the allocation of special schools (details supplied); the actions she will take to ensure that these students are not negatively impacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31877/25]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
It is important to state that if is not the intention to exclude children who require a special school place from accessing certain special school settings, But instead to work to ensure children with complex educational needs can apply to their local special school. There are situations currently arising where children with additional needs travel passed special schools in their locality to attend a special school further away. This is not fair on the children or their families.
As more special classes are provided, particularly at post-primary level, this provides more options for children with complex special educational needs to attend local schools. It is essential that special schools work to support children with the most complex needs and that children are not required to pass one or more special school to access a special school place, because of the narrow designation of some special schools. It is essential that we work to ensure more children requiring a special school place can access their nearest special school.
This is not a new Departure. Many special schools originally established under a particular designation of student need have and continue to diversify. These schools now respond to a broader range of students’ needs from within their respective catchment areas. This is in keeping with my departments policy on an inclusive education and facilitates students with more complex needs to be educated in their local special school. My department will continue to support special schools in this endeavour.
389. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school (details supplied) in Roscrea will move on to the next stage in the capital development plan. [31883/25]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Tipperary Education and Training Board.
The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning design process (detailed design). The Stage 2a report has recently been submitted to the Department and is currently under review. Once the Stage 2a review is complete and approved, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When these are in place, the project can proceed onwards to tender and construction in due course.
As the project is still at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion. However, Tipperary ETB as the delivery body, will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it fully informed of progress.
The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all pupils in Colaiste Phobail and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.
The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
390. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has considered introducing a national policy on menstrual health education that includes conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31889/25]
View answerMenstrual education is supported in the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum at primary level in a number of strands, including the ‘Myself’ and the ‘Knowing about My Body’ strand units.
Opportunities are also provided in the SPHE curriculum at both junior and senior cycle to address reproductive health including fertility and for further learning on menstruation. The HSE suite of resources developed to support the updated Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum includes a resource specifically developed to support menstrual health and wellbeing. The value and power of having this knowledge, and the confidence to share it, empowers young people to talk openly and appropriately about menstruation and reproductive health.
In addition, the 2025 Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes the commitment to provide free period products in schools to ensure no student is held back due to period poverty and I intend to make progress in relation to this commitment.
Planning work is currently underway in the Department. It is anticipated that consultation with students and stakeholders on how best to progress the commitment and inform a practical solution for implementation will begin shortly.
Department officials continue to participate in the work of the inter-departmental group on period dignity led by the Department of Health and will continue work to ensure the Programme for Government commitment is progressed.
391. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of an application of a school (details enclosed) to renovate and extend their school campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31926/25]
View answerThe project for the school to which the Deputy refers, has been devolved to the school Board of Management for delivery, with the assistance of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB).
This major building project includes an extension, refurbishment and demolition works which will deliver 750 post primary school building.
The project is currently at Stage 2b.
Stage 2b allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. When the finalised Stage 2b Report has been received, reviewed and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.
As the project is still at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.
The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all pupils in Ursuline College and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.
The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
392. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if he has a plan in place to bridge the shortfall of €90 million that was outlined at the presentation for school bus places by Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31951/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Expenditure on the School Transport Scheme has grown significantly, from over €200 million in 2018 to €512 million in 2024 (includes a cost of living advancement for 2025 of €58m).
There continues to be on-going expenditure pressures in the delivery of school transport services. My Department is working to manage demand responsibly within available resources, while continuing to provide a high-quality and inclusive service
Transport for pupils with special educational needs continues to represent the largest area of expenditure within the schemes, accounting for 59% of the total spend in 2024, while serving approximately 13% of the total overall pupils on transport. This reflects the Department’s strong commitment to inclusive access and the provision of tailored transport supports to meet individual needs. Transport for Ukrainian pupils appear from 2022 onwards, following the onset of the conflict in Ukraine and was €16m in 2024.
My Department is actively examining the financial pressures on the scheme. This increased cost reflects both increased demand for services and a welcome expansion in transport for children with special educational needs. Addressing this will form a key part of our ongoing budgetary planning process, whilst ensuring we continue to deliver a quality, inclusive transport service within available resources and in line with Government priorities. We will continue to engage with DPENDR to agree the financial resources required.
393. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school bus travelling to secondary schools (details supplied) will include new stops, given concerns regarding the safety of the current bus stops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31973/25]
View answerBus Eireann has advised that the children from the area referred to by the Deputy attending the school referred are not eligible for school transport to the school post primary school/centre eferred as they are attending their second closest post primary school/centre.
Bus Éireann further advise that families from the area referred who apply and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be accommodated with concessionary tickets on existing service for the 2025/26 school year as part of the temporary alleviation measures (TAMs) where services were available.
Bus Éireann has also advised that pupils from these areas, currently availing of transport, have a pick up point of between 3.5 km and 4.5 km from where they reside, and that that the pick-up point is considered to be safe as any other nationwide. Children are generally expected to make their own way, or to be brought to convenient pick-up points along the main route.
The Bus Éireann family portal has now closed for applications and payments. Bus Éireann will now assess all applications and payments received and plan for routes and services for the 2025/26 school year.
Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Once routes have been finalised, Bus Éireann will assign tickets for each school transport service. Tickets will begin to issue in mid-July and will continue to issue throughout July and August. Families who are unsuccessful in obtaining a seat will be notified via email and a refund will issue.
394. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider updating concessionary rules to align with the school transport scheme 2030, allowing students school choice rather than catchment restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31974/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the current terms of the scheme, pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post primary level, students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat when all eligible children have been catered for.
Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using a selection process.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
A phased implementation of the recommendations of the school transport review began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year where the Department began testing the feasibility of a number of approaches through a series of pilot programmes; these pilot programmes are held in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann.
A total of 14 pilot projects are underway in the current school year. These pilots are being evaluated to provide valuable insights into the impact of increased demand on the scheme, the potential for integrating public transport with school transport services, and opportunities to promote more sustainable modes of transport.
It is intended to continue current pilots for the upcoming school year.? They will be monitored during the year and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the 2025/2026 school year.? The findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme.
Work is also underway to identify where further pilot programmes may be conducted. A number of approaches are being examined including the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify how many additional children would become eligible and where they are located. A digital mapping project of all existing school bus routes has been developed and there is ongoing collaboration with the Department of Transport, Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority in regard to planned expansion of public transport routes to explore where integration may be possible.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the increased demand.
395. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a progress report on when the PE hall aspect of the development at a college (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31995/25]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers is at Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award.
The Design Team have completed a Pre-tender estimate of the cost of the works, which is to be submitted to my Department for assessment.
Once that assessment is complete, the project could proceed to tender in Quarter 3.
396. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will stop all payslips being sent out to SNA’s and school staff as they can be received online and reassign the funds of sending them via post to school facilities and classrooms. [32003/25]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth delivers payroll services to approximately 3,700 non-ETB schools and over 144,000 school staff each fortnight.
Payslips are made available to serving and retired school staff, paid through the Department’s payroll service, in either one of two formats, as paper payslip or as electronic payslips.
The Department uses the Digital Postbox developed by OGCIO (Office of the Government Chief Information Officer) via a payees MyGov.id account.
This e-payslip service will soon transfer to MessagingIE, but will remain on the MyGov account.
Since the introduction of the service in April 2023, there has been a positive response to the adoption of the e- payslip.
There are currently nearly 46,000 payees who have opted to receive their payslip via the Digital Postbox service.
The e-payslip is provided on an opt-in basis. In order to access the Digital Postbox/Messanging.ie service, school staff must first have a Public Services card and a MyGovID account to receive an e payslip on a secure site.
It is therefore not proposed, at this point, to dispense with the option of receiving paper payslips.
As time goes on, and as new teachers join the payroll, it is expected that more persons will elect to receive digital payslips.
The Department of Education and Youth, in conjunction with education partners and teacher representative associations, also continues to promote the use of e- payslips.
397. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) in south Tipperary has not been allocated a single SNA despite a number of children with needs in the school; if this decision will be reviewed on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32004/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. The NCSE has advised my department that all schools have been informed of their SNA allocations for the 2025/26 school year.
The NCSE are responsible for the allocation of SNAs to schools, my department does not have a role in the allocation process. I have therefore forwarded the school's details to them for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
